Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellites in Parnassius apollo and Euphydryas aurinia (Lepidoptera)

Microsatellite loci were developed from Parnassius apollo and Euphydryas aurinia, two endangered Palaearctic butterfly species. Respectively, six and five polymorphic loci were characterized from an enriched partial genomic library. Genetic diversity range from three to 25 alleles for the first species and from seven to 21 for the second. Although the presence of null alleles is suspected, these polymorphic loci are likely to provide important information on the fine scale genetic structure among populations of these species.     

Testing the effects of liquid eradicants on emergence of Anobium punctatum (Deg.)

A laboratory method is described for evaluating the effectiveness of insecticides in preventing the emergence of furniture beetles (Anobium punctatum (Deg.)). Composite blocks of Scots pine were prepared consisting of an untreated core containing larvae and two treated outer veneers from which all solvent had evaporated and through which beetles had to emerge. Dieldrin and gamma-BHC prevented emergence of beetles, dieldrin being the more effective material. The following did not prevent emergence at the concentrations tested: pentachlorophenol, zinc naphthenate, polychlor-naphthalene, copper-chrome-arsenate, tri-butyltin oxide.     

Lactate Dehydrogenase from Rhizobium. Purification and Role in Indole Metabolism

Cell-free extracts of Rhizobium meliloti contain a soluble lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-EC 1.1.1.27.). This was purified 250-fold by ammonium sulfate precipitation and filtration on different Sephadex gels. This enzyme catalyses the reduction of pyruvate to lactate in the presence of NADH and for the first time we report its ability to reduce indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPyA) to indole-3-lactic acid (ILA). Optimal conditions for activity and K_m values for both substrates were determined. In the presence of NAD the reverse reaction could be demonstrated with the aliphatic substrate (lactate), but under our conditions it was not possible to achieve the oxidation of ILA to IPyA. The role of this LDH in the indole metabolism is discussed and a general reaction scheme is suggested.     

ROUTINE RESAZURIN TEST RESULTS AND THERMODURIC BACTERIAL CONTENT OF MILK SAMPLES AS A MEASURE OF MILK PRODUCTION CONDITIONS

The milk production conditions on 44 farms (18 designated and 26 non-designated) have been assessed by score-card marks for visual conditions, facilities, equipment, and methods. Over a period of one year fortnightly samples from these farms were subjected to routine resazurin tests and laboratory pasteurized counts. The results were compared with the total score-card marks and the equipment assessments of the farms. It was found that neither test alone sufficed to detect unsatisfactory production, but failure on the two tests combined agreed well with the production conditions and facilities.
The relation of season and mean shade atmospheric temperature to the thermoduric bacterial content of the milk was studied but no clear association was observed.     

THE EFFECT OF REPEATED SPRAYING OF INSECTS IN INCREASING THEIR RESISTANCE TO INSECTICIDES: I. DEVELOPMENT OF RESISTANCE TO DDT IN A STRAIN OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER MEIG.

Successive spraying with DDT suspensions of the adults of a wild colony of Drosophila melanogaster and the progeny of survivors enhanced the resistance to that insecticide.
The rate at which resistance increased depended on: (1) the relative proportion of resistants to susceptible individuals, or (2) the intensity of selection as measured by the concentration of DDT, the proportion killed or on both. The resistance of the populations of the insects fluctuated considerably whether subjected to successive sprayings or not, and in one sprayed series there was some indication of a rhythm with peaks of susceptibility occurring at regular intervals.
Enhanced resistance may show a change of slope in the probit log concentration regression line, leading to different relative values at different levels of mortality, or by a parallel shift of the regression line. The former appears to be a preliminary stage of selection and indicates a change in the frequency distribution within a population.
Increasing the concentration of DDT, slowly or rapidly, may have enhanced resistances at an increased rate, but the series sprayed with the lower initial concentration reached finally the same end point, as judged by the values of log lc . 50.
During the course of these experiments the insects developed sensitivity to carbon dioxide (used in anaesthesis). Its bearing on our work is considered in Part II.     

The Effect of Indoleacetic Acid on Cell Wall Extensibility in Avena Coleoptiles

The extensibility of cell walls in segments of living Avenacoleoptiles has been determined after treatment with IAA bythe use of a microextensometer. It has been demonstrated thatIAA has an effect both on the plastic and elastic extensibility,which is more marked if the segments are allowed to grow, exceptat temperatures nearing 0° C. The auxin-induced increasein extensibility is therefore not a direct effect on the walland metabolic factors must be involved. The results are interpreted,along cunent lines of thought, as indicating effects on thelinkage between protopectin or hemicellulose chains themselvesand between these and the microfibrillar network of cellulose.The bearing of these interpretations on the normal growth processin cell walls is briefly discussed.     

Taxonomy,skull diversity and evolution in a species complex of Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae): a geometric morphometric appraisal

Phylogenetic relationships between taxa are not necessarily reflected by morphological data due to widespread homoplasy and convergence. However, combining morphological and molecular data provides insights into the evolution of biological forms and into the potential factors involved. Here we focus on a complex of three taxa of bats with unclear taxonomic affinities: Myotis myotis, Myotis blythii and Myotis punicus. Traditional morphometric methods failed to separate them, whereas recent molecular‐based studies suggested that they constitute separate biological species. In the present study, landmark‐based geometric morphometrics methods have been used to analyse the skull variability of 218 specimens belonging to this species complex. Patterns of size and shape delimitate three morphological groups that are congruent with the proposed taxonomic assignments, and therefore support species rank for all three major groups. These morphometrics results, however, suggest that M. myotis and M. punicus share shape characteristics in the rostrum and in the posterior part of the skull that differ from M. blythii. Because previous molecular phylogenetic analyses suggested that M. myotis and M. blythii are sister species, we interpret the similitude in skull morphology between M. myotis and M. punicus as a convergence probably related to their similar feeding habits. Within the taxon M. punicus, the skull of Corsican and Sardinian populations significantly differs from that of Maghrebian ones, suggesting the existence of further cryptic taxonomic diversity. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95 , 529–538.     

Synergistic impacts of sediment contamination and dam presence on river functioning

1. Dam presence is commonly associated with strong accumulation of polluted sediments. In spite of this context of multiple stressors, physical effects are often solely considered in the ecological assessment of the dam impacts. 2. We studied four ‘reservoir/downstream reach’ systems differing in levels of sediment contamination in reservoirs. Using assemblages and biotrait (i.e. ecological or biological attribute) responses of macroinvertebrate communities and leaf litter breakdown, we examined the individual effects and potential interactions between sediment contamination and dam presence along the gradient of ecotoxic pressure. 3. Leaf breakdown rates ranged from 0.0044° per day in the most contaminated reservoir to 0.0120° per day in the reference reservoir. Comparisons of community trait profiles among reservoirs highlighted a gradient of trait responses to sediment contamination. 4. In the absence of toxic contamination, the dam‐induced modifications in biotraits of invertebrate assemblages were not related to a reduction of leaf litter breakdown. Conversely, contaminated sediment in reservoir induced strong functional disturbances (i.e. bioecological shifts and reduction of leaf litter breakdown) downstream of dams. 5. Key biotrait categories positively related to leaf litter breakdown rate have been identified. They corresponded mainly to shredders and/or small‐sized (<0.5 cm) insects, using aquatic (e.g. crawlers) or aerial (e.g. fliers) active dispersal strategies. In addition, trait categories positively correlated to contamination level have been considered as ‘response’ traits. They corresponded to large‐sized (>4 cm) species, having several generations per year (polyvoltin), using asexual reproduction and/or disseminating by drift (aquatic, passive). 6. In the current context of ecological continuity restoration, this study has identified the risks associated with the presence of historical contamination in the run‐of‐river reservoirs for downstream ecosystem health.     

Global warming and positive fitness response in mountain populations of common lizards Lacerta vivipara

Recent global warming threatens many species and has already caused population‐ and species‐level extinctions. In particular, high risks of extinction are expected for isolated populations of species with low dispersal abilities. These predictions rely on widely used ‘climatic envelope’ models, while individual responses, the ultimate driver of a species response to climate change, have been most often neglected. Here, we report on some changes in life‐history traits of a dispersal‐limited reptile species (a poorly studied taxa) living in isolated populations. Using long‐term data on common lizards collected in southern France, we show that individual body size dramatically increased in all the four populations studied over the past 18 years. This increase in body size in all age classes appeared related to a concomitant increase in temperature experienced during the first month of life (August). Daily maximum temperature in August increased by 2.2°C and yearling snout‐vent‐length increased by about 28%. As a result, adult female body size increased markedly, and, as fecundity is strongly dependent on female body size, clutch size and total reproductive output also increased. For one population where capture–recapture data were available, adult survival was positively related to May temperature. All fitness components investigated therefore responded positively to the increase in temperature, such that it might be concluded that the common lizard has been advantaged by the shift in temperature. We contrast these short‐term results with the long‐term habitat‐based prediction that these populations located close to mountain tops on the southern margin of the species range should be unable to cope with the alteration of their habitat. To achieve a better prediction of a species persistence, one will probably need to combine both habitat and individual‐based approaches.